During the Treta Yuga, when Ravana has attained great powers after getting boons from Lord Brahma, he has become very pride, and hence, he went to various Lokas, including Indra Loka, Surya Loka and Chandra Loka, fought with the respective gods, and won them in the battle. After that, he went inside to the underworld, and reached the Sutala Loka. There he was stopped by Lord Vishnu, who works as a security guard for that Loka, as a token of appreciating the Bhakti of Prahlada and his grandson Mahabali.
At one point of time, Lord Vishnu has sent him to the palace of Mahabali. Then Ravana went straight inside the big palace of Mahabali, and after walking for a huge distance, finally, he found the great king Mahabali who was seated in a big chariot, and next to him he found a handsome looking old man, who was also seated in a golden chariot, and he was none other than our sweet Prahlada.
On seeing the two big persons, Ravana had changed his mind, and instead of fighting with Mahabali and Prahlada, he said that the purpose of his visit to the Sutala Loka was to set free Mahabali and his grandfather Prahalada from the clutches of Lord Vishnu. On hearing the wordings from the mouth of Ravana, both of the Bhagavathas were laughed at him, and asked him to lift a big ear-ring which was kept on a big golden table.
Ravana tried his level best to lift the earning by using both of his hands, but he couldn’t lift it. Then Prahalada and Mahabali had said that the kundala (earring) was once belonged to the demon king Hiranyakashyapu, who was killed by Lord Vishnu in the form of Lord Narsimha, and then they further said that if you can’t even lift that kundala, then how are you going to defeat Vishnu? Prahlada has also told about the divine qualities of Lord Vishnu, and also informed to him, that how he has been protected by Lord Vishnu during the times of his sufferings, and he further added, that the worldly pleasures enjoyed by Ravana would not last for a long time, since even Lord Indra has to leave his kingdom after the completion of his tenure from the Indra Loka, by leaving the sacred things in the heaven like the Divine Cow Kamadhenu and the wish fulfilling tree Kalpavriksha.
After hearing the statement of Prahalada and Mahabali, Ravana didn’t answer anything to them, but he kept quiet and returned to his kingdom. In course of time, he has forgotten about this matter, and began to start ruling his Sri Lanka Kingdom, as per his own wish.
From the above incident, it was proved, that the Holy Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu was once took place, and it is also believed that Prahalada and Mahabali are still living in the Sutala Loka, by giving a ‘GOLDEN RULE’ to the people who lives in that Loka.
“OM SRI BHAKTA PRAHALADAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR